President G. Mirijanian called the July Board Meeting to order at 2:11 PM at the Papa Gino’s in Natick. Eight people were in attendance: President George Mirijanian, Treasurer Robert Messenger, Clerk Nicholas Sterling (departed 4:06 PM), and Directors Kenneth Belt, Peter Majahad (departed 4:06 PM), Stephen Dann, Robert E. King (arrived 2:16 PM), and Walter Driscoll (arrived 3:01 PM). The Minutes of this Meeting were taken jointly by N. Sterling and Assistant Clerk R. Messenger.

Minutes of the June Board Meeting were distributed by Clerk N. Sterling. The only amendment made was to name “B. Messenger” as “R. Messenger” instead. Motion made by P. Majahad and seconded by R. Messenger; the Minutes were accepted as read.

(i) * * MOTION (711-1a) made by R. Messenger and seconded by P. Majahad: “It is a Standing Rule of MACA that all Motions made at MACA Board Meetings must have Seconds.” It was clarified by R. King and P. Majahad that this Rule would not obtain with Nominations.

(ii) AMENDMENT (711-1b) proposed by K. Belt: “If it is found in Robert’s Rules that Seconds are required to begin with, the Motion will be rescinded.” The VOTE was taken; with 2 votes in favor versus 5 against, the AMENDMENT was defeated.

(iii) The VOTE was taken on the original Motion; with 6 votes in favor versus 1 against, the MOTION passed. * *

Treasurer’s report was read by R. Messenger.

(a) (i) Net income of the General Fund year-to-date as of 6/30/11 (and covering the entire 12-month Fiscal Year): $6088.99 (with $3302 transferred from Life Membership Fund and Prison Fund). The improvement over last year was partly because the revenue from Scholastic Tournaments was higher than expected, partly due to transfers from other Funds, partly with the help of Auction revenue. (ii) (1) Year-to-date Special Fund income: $2696.63, with $755.80 dividends. (2) Year-to-date Special Fund expenses: $5741.99. (3) Year-to-date Special Fund net loss: $3045.36. (iii) June 2011 Changes in Fund Balances: $704.44 net loss. (iv) A possible correction was proposed under Liabilities on the last page to figures for Reserve for Chess Horizons Expenses and Reserve for Tournament Expenses. [Clerk’s Note: An e-mail dated 7/11/11 byR. Messenger confirmed the need for a correction.]

(b) * * MOTION (711-2) made by R. Messenger and seconded by

P. Majahad to appoint a Committee to investigate the Insurance Policy and report findings back to MACA at the August Board Meeting. R. Messenger nominated Stephen Dann as Chair. The VOTE was taken; with 6 votes in favor versus 1 against, the MOTION passed. * * S. Dann agreed to accept R. Messenger and G. Mirijanian as Committee Members.

(a) G. Mirijanian reported that the April-June Chess Horizons was ready to go to press that week. [Clerk’s Note: It went to press on 7/11/11.]

(b) (i) * * MOTION (711-3) made by R. Messenger and seconded by

P. Majahad: “Move to publish the next issue of Chess Horizons as the April-September issue and eliminate the July-September issue. The General Fund will refund $2 per prison inmate receiving Chess Horizons to the Prison Fund and refund $2 per life member receiving Chess Horizons to the Life Membership Fund. The Membership Secretary will advance the expiration dates for all Members and paid Subscribers receiving Chess Horizons by three months.” A message would be included in the (newly re-dated) April-September Issue to explain to readers this decision. (ii) An Amendment proposed by P. Majahad, to discontinue Chess Horizons until an editor be found, went by without a Second. (iii) After intense discussion, the VOTE was taken; with 2 votes in favor versus 6 against, the MOTION was defeated. * *

(ii) MOTION (711-5b) made by S. Dann and seconded by G. Mirijanian to RECONSIDER. The VOTE was taken; with 4 votes in favor versus 2 against, the MOTION to RECONSIDER passed.

(iii) AMENDMENT (711-5c) made by S. Dann and seconded by R. Messenger to add the words “for the 2011-2012 school year” after the word “rules” and before the words “for the following” in the original MOTION. The VOTE was taken on the original MOTION thus amended; with 5 votes in favor versus 1 against, the MOTION passed. * *

Tournament:

(a) R. Messenger reported: (i) that the TLA for the Greater Boston Open on 10/23/11 has been submitted. (ii) The 2012 Massachusetts Open will be held at the Best Western hotel in Marlboro (same as for this past Open; the site was highly praised).

(iii) The Pillsbury Memorial will be held in Leominster on 12/3. (iv) The Massachusetts Game/60 still has to be settled for date, time, and location. (v) The New England Open will be held in Leominster on Labor Day weekend. R. King noted that the last time he checked online, info on the NE Open had not been published on the website.

(b) N. Sterling reported that he is organizing a tournament at New England Sports Academy on Monday 8/15, 8/22, 8/29, 4-9 PM, the first ever such tournament to be held at NESA.

(c) * * MOTION (711-6) made by G. Mirijanian and seconded by R. King to appoint Stephen Dann as the chair of a committee to organize a January or February tournament at the Marriott Logan Hotel in Boston. The VOTE was taken; with 6 votes in favor versus 1 against, the MOTION passed. * * [Clerk’s Note: MOTION 911-1b from the September Board Meeting replaced the words above in red with the words “Hyatt Harborside Hotel (at Logan Airport in East Boston”.]

Bylaws:

(i) * * BYLAWS AMENDMENT MOTION (711-7a) made by R. King and seconded by S. Dann: “Vote totals are required to be shown in the minutes of board meetings for all motions, elections of committee chairs and other personnel that are contested, and elections of officer positions, due to vacancy, that are contested."

(ii) AMENDMENT (711-7b) made by K. Belt and seconded by R. Messenger to substitute, for the original MOTION, “Amend the bylaws to require that all vote totals shall be recorded in the minutes.” The AMENDMENT passed UNANIMOUSLY with 6 votes in favor.

(iv) MOTION (711-7c) made by R. King and seconded by S. Dann: “It is a Standing Rule of MACA, effective with this meeting, that all vote totals will be recorded in the minutes.” The VOTE was taken; with 5 votes in favor versus 1 abstention, the MOTION passed. (ROLL CALL VOTE Record: In favor: R. King, S. Dann, K. Belt,

New Business: (a) * * MOTION (711-8) made by R. Messenger and seconded by R. King to amend MOTION 611-1 by deleting it in its entirety and substituting the following: “To thank the members of the Election Commission for their work and authorize the destruction of the ballots.” The VOTE was taken; with 5 votes in favor versus 1 against, the MOTION passed. * *

(b) (i) * * MOTION (711-9a) made by R. Messenger and seconded by K. Belt to authorize the Tournament Committee to refurbish the Massachusetts Open travelling trophy at a cost of up to $300.

(ii) AMENDMENT (711-9b) made by S. Dann and seconded by R. King to change “the Tournament Committee” to “Stephen Dann.” The VOTE was taken; with 5 votes in favor versus 1 abstention, the AMENDMENT passed.

(iii) The VOTE was taken on the original MOTION; with 5 votes in favor versus 1 abstention, the MOTION passed. * *

(c) (i) * * MOTION (711-10a) made by R. Messenger and seconded by W. Driscoll to authorize the Scholastic Committee to purchase a new Hurvitz Cup Middle School travelling trophy at a cost of up to $300, to be paid for out of the Hurvitz Trust.

(ii) AMENDMENT (711-10b) made by S. Dann and seconded by R. King to change “the Scholastic Committee” to “Stephen Dann.”

(iii) MOTION (711-10c) made by R. Messenger and seconded by

W. Driscoll to postpone the original Motion to the August Meeting. The VOTE was taken; with 3 votes in favor versus 3 against, the MOTION was defeated.

(iv) The VOTE was taken on the AMENDMENT; with 1 vote in favor, 4 against, and 1 abstention, the AMENDMENT was defeated.

(v) AMENDMENT (711-10d) made by R. Messenger and seconded by R. King to add the words “and to provide that the names of the teams and players from the old trophy be transferred to the new trophy” to the end of the original MOTION’s wording. The VOTE was taken; with 5 votes in favor versus 1 against, the AMENDMENT passed.

(vi) The VOTE was taken on the original MOTION; with 5 votes in favor versus 1 against, the MOTION passed. * *

President G. Mirijanian adjourned the July Board Meeting at 6:37 PM. The date, time, and place for the August Board Meeting are Sunday, 8/28/11 at a place and time TBD.